Researchers say that sex and porn addiction is on the rise and could be compared to alcohol or gambling addiction, although spectators won’t see it as an actual medical issue. The Rutland Centre in Dublin, Ireland, home to mainly alcohol addicted patients, has seen an increase in sex addiction in the past years.

“We can expect to see an increase in sex addiction...In the U.S. they estimate two thirds of kids are looking at porn as they do their homework,” Clinical Services Manager at the Rutland Centre in Dublin Erica Ruigrok told Irish Times. “I’d say we have a tsunami coming our way in terms of sex addiction.”

Sex Addiction Increases

The Rutland Centre saw less than half percent of its clients affected by sex addiction in 2009. Now the research and rehabilitation facility highlights sex addiction as the main issue in six percent of its presentations.

“It’s a game-changer...With the internet you can find a sex partner within 15 minutes – as quickly as you can find a take-away (takeout food delivery),” Ruigrok said.

Dr. John O’Connor, medical director of the Rutland Centre, said sex addiction stems from a poor childhood and is one of the “loneliest addictions.”

“It’s all there. If people have bad childhoods, they are in trouble,” Dr. O’Connor said. “They may have experienced trauma, abandonment issues, lack of boundaries, narcissistic parenting...In addiction people are self-medicating...They are using drink or sex or whatever it is to soothe and regulate emotions.”

Sex Addiction a Clinical Diagnosis

Sex addiction – also known as hyper-sexuality – is now recognized by the American Psychiatric Association handbook as a clinical diagnosis. New York City Sex Addicts Anonymous holds weekly meetings for those who seek recovery from their own sexual addiction where there are also meetings tailored to Spanish speakers.

Rebecca Barker, a victim of sex addiction, tells The Sun UK that she had to see a psychiatrist to help cope with her sex addiction.

“When I mentioned my sex addiction she upped my anti-depressants but it didn’t stop me wanting sex, it just dimmed the physical sensations,” she said. “I left my partner in 2014 and had a couple of rebound relationships based on sex.”

Barker, who lost her virginity when she was 15 years old, said she demanded sex from her former partner five times a day, causing a strain in their relationship.

Dating Sites Fuel Sex Addiction

Another sex addiction victim, Andrew Goodall, said he used the dating website Plenty of Fish to hook up with several sexual partners.

“I have no idea how many people I have slept with, it’s well in the hundreds,” he said. “It’s only in the last couple of years I’ve started keeping count. This year it’s been about 20 so far.”

He has one kid and has gotten a vasectomy to keep from having any more unplanned pregnancies.

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